For the renovation of this Mill Valley, California, residence, the clients requested a new open floor plan, as well as a connection to the outdoors.
Michael Hennessey Architecture facilitated these desires by organizing the house around a central courtyard that maximizes the house’s softly lit northern orientation and minimizes the harsh sunlight from the south-facing front deck.
These two conditions also shaped other areas of the home, including a kitchen with a glowing clerestory above the custom cabinetry; a hallway that meets the central living space at a perpendicular that creates an extra courtyard; and a material richness and texture throughout.
The private areas are similarly oriented to the outdoors, with the primary bedroom emphasizing carefully framed views of the lush trees outside.
Meanwhile, exterior details like an outdoor shower in the back and attention to the underside of the exposed front deck “serve to create a comprehensive, thoughtful, and sensitive approach to creating extraordinary daily life on an ordinary budget,” says the firm.
During the whole-home remodel, the team was able to retain 80% of the existing wood framing and 90% of the existing concrete foundation.
Project Details
Award: Merit
Category: Renovations & Additions
Architect: Michael Hennessey Architecture
Builder: New Dimension Builders
Location: Mill Valley, California
Size: 1,870 square feet
